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RhACT I. LADY STUTFIELD Do you really, really think, Lady Caroline, that one should believe evil of every one?

LADY CAROLINE I think it is much safer to do so, Lady Stutfield. Until, of course, people are found out to be good. But that requires a great deal of investigation, nowadays.

LADY STUTFIELD But there is so much unkind scandal in modern life.

LADY CAROLINE Lord Illingworth remarked to me last night at dinner that the basis of every scandal is an absolutely immoral certainty.

KELVIL Lord Illingworth is, of course, a very brilliant man, but he seems to me to be lacking in that fine faith in the nobility and purity of life which is so important in this century.

LADY STUTFIELD Yes, quite, quite important, is it not? 27